English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Specialist

Resulting Certificates

The ESL Postbaccalaureate Certificate program is a 15-credit program including practical teaching experience with English learners. The ESL Postbaccalaureate Certificate program was designed to allow teachers to choose a set of courses that meet content guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for the ESL Program Specialist Certificate. In addition to receiving a postbaccalaureate certificate from Penn State, those who have completed a Pennsylvania teaching certification (Instructional I or II) will receive a letter that verifies completion of the state requirements for the ESL Program Specialist Certificate and may apply directly through the PA Department of Education for the ESL Specialist Certificate. Teachers interested in this route should confer with ESL Postbaccalaureate Certificate faculty to ensure their options and plans align with PDE expectations.

The ESL Certificate is a program offered cooperatively by the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and the Department of Applied Linguistics. Students interested in teaching English in other countries or would like to teach adult English language learners should consider the online TESOL program or the master’s of arts degree in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) program in the Department of Applied Linguistics.

Admission Requirements

An applicant must hold either a (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates. To be considered for admission, an applicant must demonstrate a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (out of 4.0).

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency requirements section of the Graduate School Admission website.

Many US states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.  

Admission Process

Application to the ESL Postbaccalaureate Certificate program is initiated through the Graduate School.  Individuals who already have an undergraduate degree and are seeking admission to the postbaccalaureate program must complete and submit the Penn State Graduate School online application. Select "Certificate Admission" for the application type, and choose one of University Park, Berks, York, and Lehigh Valley as the campus and "English as a Second Language Program Specialist" as the certificate.  A non-refundable fee of $65 is required.

Applications to the ESL Postbaccalaureate Certificate program may be made at any time.

Courses

Students complete five courses for certification as an ESL Program Specialist:

• APLNG 484: Discourse-Functional Grammar
• APLNG 493: Teaching English as a Second Language
• WL ED 400: Foundations of Language in Second Language Teaching
• WL ED 444: Language, Culture and the Classroom: Issues for Practitioners
• WL ED 483: Evaluating Schools Performances and Programs with English Language Learners (ELLs)

Immersion Experience Option

The ESL certificate at Penn State may be completed on campus or through an intensive study option, Teaching ESL with Immersion Experience, which offers the opportunity to complete the program over two academic sessions (Spring and Summer) and includes an international practice teaching experience. A specific application process is required. Applications for the Immersion experience are submitted in November for the program beginning the following January.

Resulting Certificates

The ESL Program Specialist Certificate program is a 12-credit program including practical teaching experience with English learners. The ESL Certificate program was designed to allow pre-service teachers to choose a set of courses that meet content guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for the ESL Program Specialist Certificate. Pre-service teachers concurrently completing their initial teaching license (Instructional I) will be eligible to apply directly through the PA Department of Education for the ESL Program Specialist Certificate after being granted their initial teaching license. Students interested in this route should confer with ESL Program Specialist Certificate faculty and their academic program advisor to ensure their options and plans align with major requirements and PDE expectations.

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction offers the ESL Certificate program. Students interested in teaching English in other countries or would like to teach adult English language learners should consider the online TESOL program or the master’s of arts degree in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) program in the Department of Applied Linguistics.

Courses

Students complete four courses for certification as an ESL Program Specialist:

• CI 280 Introduction to Teaching English Learners
• CI 288 Foundations of Multilingual Learners
• CI 388 Sociopolitical Contexts of Teaching Multilingual Learners
• CI 488 Designing Assessment and Curriculum for Multilingual Learners

Course Descriptions:

CI 280 Introduction to Teaching English Learners

This course focuses on developing foundational knowledge related to working with students designated English learners otherwise referred to as multilingual learners (MLs) in U.S. school contexts. The basic premise of the course is that teachers play an important role in creating a positive classroom learning environment and bringing school success for MLs. Moreover, demographic changes across the country necessitate that all educators be prepared to advocate for and facilitate learning for MLs. This course is designed to develop essential dispositions, skills, and knowledge for teacher education students to fulfill their important role.

CI 288 Foundations of Multilingual Learners

This course will examine language, its structures, and the ways that language mediates learning in classrooms and schools. This course addresses specifically how English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Specialists, in collaboration with content area teachers, can support the holistic learning and success of language learners in ways that value home languages and the acquisition of multilingual literacies. Students will develop a critical understanding of foundational concepts related to first and second language acquisition and the development of bilingualism and biliteracy for children and young people. Students will explore English as a language system, including linguistic forms and functions, as well as the fundamentals of early literacy and strategies to build semantic networks across languages and support learners’ emergent biliteracy.

CI 388 Sociopolitical Contexts of Teaching Multilingual Learners

This course will examine the micro-level experiences of language learners and macro-sociopolitical context in which they are embedded. This course will prepare English as a Second (ESL) Program Specialists to better understand political and social dynamics shaping the experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse students. As such, ESL Program Specialists will develop a strong understanding of the technical qualities of formalized and standardized assessment, and the potential biases they hold in relation to multilingual populations. This course will discuss alternative forms of assessments that can inform curriculum and instruction. Professional resources and organizations at the state, national and international levels will be explored to help teachers with their future career development. As a result, this course will help build ESL Program Specialists’ capacity to collaborate with other educators and school personnel, advocate on behalf of MLs, and partner with families and communities to support MLs.  

CI 488 Designing Assessment and Curriculum for Multilingual Learners

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Specialists play multiple roles in schools and classrooms. They collaborate with classroom teachers to identify and assess newcomers, assist the adjustment of new students into the school and classroom, and most importantly, build a caring and pedagogically sound classroom environment for MLs. In this course, educators can design and implement a curriculum that integrates language and content-area learning. The course will prepare ESL Program Specialists to better attend to and develop MLs’ literacy skills while engaging them in rigorous grade-level curriculum to meet Pennsylvania content and English language development standards. The course will cover topics such as linguistic differentiation, translanguaging pedagogies, classroom discourse practices, multimodal learning strategies, and ongoing formative assessments.

Immersion Experience Option

The ESL certificate at Penn State may be completed on campus or through an intensive study option, Teaching ESL with Immersion Experience, which offers the opportunity to complete the program over two academic sessions (Spring and Summer) and includes an international practice teaching experience. A specific application process is required. Applications for the Immersion experience are submitted in November for the program beginning the following January.

Immersion Experience Option

The ESL certificate at Penn State may be completed on campus or through an intensive study option, Teaching ESL with Immersion Experience, which offers the opportunity to complete the program over two academic sessions (Spring and Summer) and includes an international practice teaching experience. A specific application process is required. Applications for the Immersion experience are submitted in November for the program beginning the following January.